(RNN) - There weren't many surprises to speak of at the 54th annual Grammy awards Sunday night. And perhaps that was the biggest surprise of all.
On a night that's billed as a celebration of the best, brightest and most talented music has to offer, talent - and nothing more - won the night.
As anticipated, Adele carted off six Grammy's, tying the record for the most awards taken home by a female artist in a single night. Fresh off of vocal cord surgery, she then effortlessly belted "Rolling in the Deep" to a standing ovation by a roomful of music's adoring elite.
The Foo Fighters drove a stake through the notion that rock is dead, bringing home five Grammy‘s.
The one big shock of the night? Bon Iver - who if you don't spend your days camping out at summer music festivals or crafting obscure band play lists on Spotify, you may never have heard of - beat out Nicki Minaj for best new artist.
For music purists, it was a bizarre moment.
No Gaga's "hatching" out of eggs (a la 2011 Grammys), no lip syncing by Chris Brown, not even an exorcism carried out on stage by duo-personalitied rapper Minaj could over shadow the simple craft of writing lyrics, polishing melodies, and honing their art.
Some people work hard at getting noticed (ahem, blue-haired Katie Perry). Others simply create and share.
When, for once, raw musical talent was enough to earn a Grammy, some of the winners weren't quite sure what to make of it.
"When I started to make songs, I did it for the inherent reward of making songs so I'm a bit uncomfortable up here," noted Bon Iver front man Justin Vernon after winning Best New Artist, the band's second award of the night. "But with that discomfort, I do have a sense of gratitude and I want to say thank you to all the nominees and all the non-nominees who have never been here and never will be here."
When the Foo's took home Best Rock Performance for their album, Wasting Light, front man Dave Grohl noted the album was cut not in a multi-million dollar studio, but in his garage.
"To me this award means a lot because it shows the human element of music is most important. Singing into a microphone, learning to play an instrument, learning to do your craft, that's the most important thing," he said to resounding applause.
"It's not about what goes on in a computer. It's about what goes on in here [head] and in here [heart]."
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band kicked off the night in appropriate fashion, with the Boss and his band delivering a raw "We Take Care of Our Own." The tributes to Etta James and Whitney Houston were equally simple, and breathtakingly elegant.
Only 24 hours after her death, Jennifer Hudson delivered a soaring performance of Houston's signature "I Will Always Love You" with unadorned piano accompaniment.
Blending their R&B and soaring bluesy vocals, Alicia Keys and Bonnie Raitt stripped down James's classic song, "Sunday Kind of Love."
While there will be plenty of shock to come - Gaga is reportedly writing for her next album - for at least one night, music reigned. Music - not antics - shined. And the Grammy's took one small step toward relevance once again.
Jennifer Bowen is a self-professed music purist and lead producer for RNN. Copyright 2011 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved.
Jennifer Hudson belted Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" in tribute to the deceased singer. (Source: The Recording Academy/CBS/CNN)
British singer Adele swept all six Grammy Awards for which she was nominated. (Source: The Recording Academy/CBS/CNN)
The Foo Fighter's Dave Grohl said in his acceptance speech all that matters is that music comes from the head and the heart. (Source: The Recording Academy/CBS/CNN)
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